No. 1 Michigan State Holds Off Florida, 58-52

NOAH TRISTER, AP Sports Writer

EAST LANSING (AP) — Denzel Valentine scored 17 points, and No. 1 Michigan State moved within one victory of matching the program's best start, beating Florida 58-52 on Saturday night to improve to 11-0.

Only the 2000-01 Spartans had a better start, winning their first 12 games.

Michigan State shot 37 percent from the field against the scrappy, athletic Gators, who trailed by four when the Spartans lost the ball with about 30 seconds to play. Florida's Dorian Finney-Smith took a 3-pointer from the left wing, but he missed and Michigan State was able to pad its margin with free throws.

Finney-Smith scored 13 points for the Gators (6-3) and Kasey Hill added 13 of his own. Bryn Forbes scored 12 points for Michigan State.

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